Container for corrosive liquids and other substances



Sept. 4, 1945. D. T. DowNEs 2,384,084

CONTAINER FOR CORROSIVE LIQUIDS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES Filed Nov. 4. 1943 2 sheets-sheet 1 ,DANIEL T Do w/vss sept. 4, 194.5.

D. T. DowNEs CONTAINER FR CORROSIVE LIQUIDS AND OTHR SUBSTANCES Filed Nov. 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WAN/EL 7.' Do w/VES vPatented Sept. 4, 1945 CONTAINER FOR CORROSIVE LIQUIDS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES Daniel T. Downes, Crei Pittsburgh Plate Gla ghton, Pa., assignor to ss Company, Allegheny County,.Pa., a'corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 4, 1943, Serial No. 508,918

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to non-metallic containers for corrosive liquids, such as acids, pickling solutions, plating Vbaths and for other liquids which it may beldes'ired to'provide in rel atively large quantities.

One object of the invention is to provide improved' reinforcing frameworks or containers composed of plates of glass secured together to provide side walls.

A second object is to provide an improved means of sealing the joints between -contiguous plates in containers of the foregoing type.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specication and the appended claims.

Ithas heretofore-been proposed to formcontainers such as tanks and'vats for storing'acids, holding pickling solutions, or plating solutions, `or for containers employed in the storage or treatment of food products, of glass. IIf these containers are of large size, such as are employed in commercial operations', it is necessary to form them of a plurality of plates which are secured together and sealed at'the joints in order to provide a liquid-tightconstruction. The problem of providing a suitable seal at the joints has heretofore constituted a very serious problem because as the glass plates expanded or contracted, due to thermal changes, or were subjected to mechanical strains and stresses from various causes', crackspermitting the escape 0f liquids were likely to open. Of course escaping corrosive substances would attack the securing members of the joints and otherstructures associated with the tanks, thus doing serious damage in a comparatively short time.

In accordance with thefprovisions of the present invention it is proposed Vto obviate or at least substantially reducethe foregoing difficulties by the provision ofsealing rods' in the angles of the tanks designed to yield and move to accommodate the various expansions and contractions or other movements of the-glass plates in service.

lFor a better understanding 0f Vthe invention reference may now behadto-the 4accompanying drawings in Vwhich 'like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which Fig. l'is a view1partial1y in section and partially inelevationrof atankiconstructed in accordance .with the provisions of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through a corner of a tank showing on a larger scale the structure for holding the plates and sealing the joints between them;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the line III-III of Fig. 1 and further illustrating the cornerstructure of the tank,

In'a construction embodying the principles of the invention, as shown in the drawings, a tank IU comprises side walls II, rend walls I2 and a bottom I3, all comprising glass plates preferably of considerable thickness,e. g., 1/2 inch and also tempered by Ysudden chilling of the plates While heated approximately to the softening point. The art of tempering such plates is well understood and need not be further described. The plates are secured in a frame of angle irons-s`ecuring and covering the corners and including bottom members IIy and topmembers Il, which provide an upper rand a lower angular frame. These frames are securedtogether vat the vertical corners by means of vertical angle irons I8,

and gusset plates I9 bolted tothe frames and the vertical members as indicated at 2| Ato provide a rigid connection.

Itis to be observed that the edges of the plates II, I2 and I3 are beveled at 22 to provide inwardly llaring crevices or channels in which are wedgedv securing `rods '23. These rods may be formed of steel, brass or other strong metal and preferably are formed withexpansion joints 25 including portions 24 and 25 that overlap each other in order to obtain continuity across joints. The rods are also covered Vwith layers 21 Yof a corrosion resistant, 'yieldable material, such as lead `or a chemically `resistant form of plastic or rubber.

The plates are forced-diagonally toward each other at the corners in order to obtain Yproper spacing by means of a system of Wedges Y28 and 29, having opposed sloping faces. 'The lbacks of these wedges are parallel and one engages -the outer face of the associated glassplate while the other Yengages the inner face of the contiguous angle iron so that by sliding one wedge upon the other any desired spacing of therlglass plate -With respect to the corresponding ange lof "theangle is obtained.

It is to be vobserved that the'inner wedgelZB is longer than the outer and that theend thereof is mitered and meets with the corresponding end of the wedge on the otherside on. the corner. This admits of driving of the outer Wedges129 without-slippage ofthe inner wedges, thus assuring that the thickness of the wedge system will increase as the inner Wedge is driven inwardly.

As shown in Fig. 2, the rod 23 is drawn into the tapered slot formed by the beVels 22 by means of screws 3|, which are threaded into the rods and project outwardly at the corners bei tween the plates. 'I'he corners of the angle irons I8 are appropriately notched at desired intervals as indicated at 32 to receive the outwardly-proiecting extremities of the bolts. Also, cup-like members 33 are disposed in the notches and have flanges 34 setting upon the edges thereof. Coil springs 35 are in the cups of the members and are held under compression by means of nuts 3'! threaded upon the bolts. w

It will be apparent that by screwing the nuts 31 in or out the compression .upon the sprin'gs 36 causes the rod 23 to be drawn outwardly and wedged yieldably between the beveled surfaces 22.

` is regulated. The compression Vof the springs The springs will yield under expansion or otherV changes in glass plates to maintain Vuniform line contact between the covering element 2! and the surfaces 22. The spring connection or seat for the nuts 3'1 will also permit slight tilting movement of the bolts to accommodate for thermal expansion or contraction;of the rods under service conditions. The beveling of theedges oi the plates assures that even with comparatively slight pressure exertedby the springs 36 strong compressional forces between glass and the coveringsv 21 will be exerted, thus assuring that a perfect seal will bemaintained at all times.

It will be apparentthat the junctions of the rods 23 at the corners between the glass plates can be sealed with a yieldable material, such as lead burned into the junction or in any other way in which it may be desired. The vconstructions herein shown anddescribed are to be considered merely as exemplary. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modications may bey made therein without departure from thespirit v'of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims. 1 Y

What I claim is: Y

1. A glass container for corrosive liquids and the like comprising plates of glass setup in angular relation with-respect to eachother to form the sidewalls of the containers, said plates having contiguous edges beveled to provide inwardly flared crevices, the outsides of the angles between the plates beingcovered with angle irons and the insides of the crevices being sealed by to engage the exterior facesof the-angles be-` tween the plates and wedges between the plates and the angle irons, which wedges comprise pairs of elements having sloping faces sliding upon each other and parallel backs. one of which-engages the contiguous face ofthe glass and the other of which engages the inner face of the contiguous angle iron. i

BfA container for corrosive liquids and the like comprising glass plates set up in an angular relation to provide side walls for the container, a reinforcing framework of angle irons disposed to engage the exterior faces of the angles between the plates and wedges between the plates Y and the angle irons, which wedges comprise pairs of elements having sloping faces sliding upon each otherY and parallel-backs, 'one of.5 which engages the contiguous face of'rthe'glass and the other of wlich engages the inner face of the contiguous angle iron,v the inner wedges being beveled at their extremities within the angle irons and the extremity of an inner wedge under one ange of an angle iron abutting against the corresponding portion of an inner wedge under the adjoining ange of the same angle iron to admit of driving the corresponding outer wedges inwardly without simultaneous movement pf the inner wedges.

4'. In a container structure for corrosive liquids and the like comprisingvplates of glass set up'in angular relation with respect toveach other; to provide the sidewalls ofthe container, aljoint structure between the plates, angle elements engaging the exterior faces of vthe plates at the angles, sealing rods wedged between the plates at the angles, vsaidY rods having expansion joints therein and being covered by continuousyieldable sheathing adapted to Contactl with the surfaces of the glass plates to provide a seal, bolts threaded into `the rods and projecting outwardly through openings in the angleV irons nuts upon the bolts and springs in compression between the nuts andthe irons. f Y

5. A container for corrosive liquidsv and the like comprising platesof glass set up in angular relation with respect to eachf other-to constitute the sides and bottom of the container, avframe- Ywork comprising-angle irons covering the angles formed by the plates, said plates having vbeveled edges providing rinwardly flaring crevices, vthe sides of which have comparatively slight angularity with respect to each other,` sealing rods disposed in the crevices and being wedged outwardly by means of screws threaded into the rods and extending outwardly through openings in the angle irons. i

6. A construction as defined in clairn in which helical springs under compressionv are'disposed about the screws and exert pressure at one extremity against the Ycorresponding f angle iron and at the other extremity exert pressure against arnut upon the screw. v-

'7. A container for corrosive liquids and the like comprising plates of glass set up in angular,V relation with respect to each other to constitutefthe side and bottom of the container, a framework comprising angle irons covering the rangles formed by the plates, said plates having beveled edges providing inwardly ilaring crevices, the sides of which have slight angularity with-respect to each other, sealing; rods disposed in the crevices, screws threaded into the rods and ex-` tending outwardly throughA openings `formedin the angle irons and constituting means for wedging the rods intothe crevices, and wedges .disposed between the edges ofthe plates and angle irons for adjustment of the plates to' obtain proper spacing of the Icontiguous 'beveled' edges.

' DANIEL T. DOWNES.- 

